Primary tabs
Transcription
[Page 3]
past efforts, as you expressed a wish for me to visit the southern isle. I mean to bring away as many living plants as I think are not likely to be procured by seed; and all objects that fall in my way. I should imagine the Gov. will tell you that he proposed for me to go to Kings island in Bass's straits, and that I refused. I will tell you my reasons. It would have been almost such another voyage in the Lady Nelson, as the vessel was the smaller of the two. And I should have lost those seeds that I knew of in the Blue Mountains, a place that I think if I had neglected, it would might have been a long time before another person will be acquainted with that part of the country. Moreover the Gov. had fixed upon a person for to collect for him, and as I know that he is jealous of me, and thinking of doing more in natural history, it would have been a pity to have taken the least fame from him.
But such method of collecting does not disturb me in the least, for it all tends to the improvement of science. But you are well aware, that all this is done without any trouble on the part of he that gains applause, and with but little expence, if any. With me it is quite the reverse, every individual specimen